A short early morning pursuit in downtown El Centro ended in a crash and multiple charges against the driver.

The chase began at 3:00 a.m. when a large SUV was seen running a stop sign. The pursuit covered about one and a half miles circling downtown El Centro before it ended in the 500 block of Main Street. In the process of attempting to flee , the driver of the SUV ran several stop signs , almost ran over a pedestrian and knocked down a utility pole. The driver was detained and is expected to be charged with evading police and being an unlicensed driver. When police contacted the driver's mother to pick up the subject she responded that she couldn't because he had taken her car. The driver will also be charged with auto theft.